Judges 1-3

“Another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel” (2:10). After Joshua died, the Israelites had no clear leader. Joshua, Caleb, and others had seen God’s great deliverances and followed him whole- heartedly, but when they were gone, the Israelites stumbled. They “followed and worshipped the various gods of the people around them” (2:12), and they intermarried with the Canaanites who did not know the Lord (3:5-6). “They were in great distress” (2:16), so God sent judges (leaders) to help them.

“He raised up for them a deliverer” (3:9). The faith of the past isn’t enough; every generation must call out to God for themselves and experience him as Deliverer.